Six people have died of cholera in Isolo Local Government
Area of Lagos State after eating contaminated Abacha, a local delicacy
of the people of the South-East geopolitical zone.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who briefed the press
about the development at the state’s secretariat on Thursday, stated
that 39 other persons were under observation and receiving treatment at
public and private health facilities in Isolo.
Cholera is an acute diarrhoea disease with or without vomiting caused
by a bacteria referred to as vibro cholerae and it is transmitted
through ingestion of food or water contaminated with infected faeces.
Idris, who stated that seven out of the 15 samples taken to the
Public Health Laboratory, Yaba, after an upsurge of diarrhoea cases was
reported in some communities in Isolo, tested positive to vibro
cholerae.
He stated, “Six deaths were recorded among the 45 cases. Majority of
the patients did not present with the classical rice-water stool, rather
they presented with atypical diarrhoea and vomiting.
“After a thorough analysis of the ano-rectal swabs that were
collected from 15 cases, vibrio cholerae was confirmed and found to be
the Ogawa strain of the virus.
“Twenty-two of the 26 that were being managed at the Isolo General
Hospital and the Lagos Mainland Hospital have been discharged, one died,
while three are still on admission at the Lagos Mainland Hospital. The
three patients are still on admission but they are in stable condition.”
The commissioner noted that water and food analysis done at the Lagos
State Drug Quality Control Laboratory showed that Abacha, a local
salad, that was eaten by many of the victims, was the source of the
infection.
Idris said, “The main suspected source of infection is the salad
called Abacha, a staple food that is consumed regularly in the area.
Samples of the local salad and the well water they consume in the area
revealed the presence of vibrio cholerae, Salmonella species and E.coli
in Abacha and the water sample taken from one of the two wells in the
area.”
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